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Spreadsheets · head to head

Quadratic vs SeaTable

Quadratic logo

Quadratic

Spreadsheets

Infinite-canvas spreadsheet that runs Python, SQL and formulas in the same grid

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SeaTable logo

SeaTable

Spreadsheets

German-hosted database-spreadsheet hybrid from the team behind Seafile, with a self-hosted server edition

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Quadratic aI usage is metered as a dollar allowance rather than a flat entitlement, so a team that adopts the agent enthusiastically will exhaust 20 USD per user per month quickly and the true cost per seat becomes unpredictable.; SeaTable the free self-hosted Developer Edition is capped at three users, so the pattern that makes Baserow and NocoDB attractive, running it yourself for free at real headcount, is not available and any serious on-premises deployment needs a paid per-user licence.
  • They diverge on capability: Quadratic covers Multi-language cells, SeaTable covers Typed column database.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Quadratic and SeaTable actually diverge.

Attributes where Quadratic and SeaTable differ
AttributeQuadraticSeaTable
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb, iOS, Android, Linux

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (Per user per month), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Spreadsheets).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Quadratic

  • Multi-language cells
  • Infinite canvas
  • Direct database connections
  • AI agent in the sheet
  • WebAssembly engine
  • Python package support

Only in SeaTable

  • Typed column database
  • Multiple views
  • Universal app builder
  • Python and JavaScript scripting
  • Self-hosted server
  • German data centres

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Quadratic

  • An analyst who wants a SQL result, a Python transformation and a set of manual assumptions visible in one file instead of three toolsnot SeaTable
  • Ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cellnot SeaTable
  • Sharing a reproducible analysis with a colleague who will only ever open a spreadsheet, not a notebooknot SeaTable
  • Prototyping a data pull against a warehouse before committing it to a scheduled pipelinenot SeaTable

SeaTable

  • A German or Austrian company that needs a shared operational database but cannot put customer records on a US-hosted servicenot Quadratic
  • Replacing a sprawl of Excel files used by several departments with one permissioned base and per-view sharingnot Quadratic
  • Running a small internal tool, such as an equipment register or an application tracker, without commissioning a bespoke buildnot Quadratic
  • Teams already using Seafile that want structured data alongside their file sync platformnot Quadratic

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Quadratic

  • AI usage is metered as a dollar allowance rather than a flat entitlement, so a team that adopts the agent enthusiastically will exhaust 20 USD per user per month quickly and the true cost per seat becomes unpredictable.
  • Self-hosting is available only on the Enterprise plan, so an organisation that cannot send data to the vendor cloud has to enter a sales negotiation rather than run a container.
  • Excel and Google Sheets compatibility is partial, so files with heavy conditional formatting, pivot tables or macros do not survive a round trip and have to be rebuilt.
  • The product is young and the connector list is short, covering the main relational databases and two warehouses, so anything else has to be reached through Python code you write and maintain yourself.
  • There is no real mobile editing experience, which matters more than it sounds for a spreadsheet because approvals and quick checks routinely happen on a phone.

SeaTable

  • The free self-hosted Developer Edition is capped at three users, so the pattern that makes Baserow and NocoDB attractive, running it yourself for free at real headcount, is not available and any serious on-premises deployment needs a paid per-user licence.
  • Row limits are counted across the whole account rather than per base, so the free plan ceiling of 10,000 rows and the Plus ceiling of 50,000 rows arrive sooner than people expect once a few tables hold historical records.
  • The integration catalogue is short compared with Airtable, and many connections have to be routed through Zapier, Make or n8n, which adds a second subscription and a second failure point.
  • English documentation and community content lag the German material, so non-German teams hit thinner tutorials and fewer worked examples when they get to scripting and the app builder.
  • The vendor is a small German company rather than a venture-funded platform, which is a stability advantage but means a slower feature pace and fewer third-party consultants available to hire if a project needs outside help.

Pricing, plan by plan

Quadratic

Free
  • PersonalFree
    • Limited AI usage
    • Limited files and connections
    • Limited sharing
  • Pro$18/month
    • Billed annually
    • 20 USD of AI credits per month
    • Unlimited files
  • Business$36/month
    • Billed annually
    • 40 USD of AI credits per month
    • Advanced permissions
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Quoted
    • Self-hosting option
    • Custom AI usage

SeaTable

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 25 users
    • 10,000 rows in total
    • 2 GB storage
  • Plus$7/month
    • Billed annually, 9 EUR if billed monthly
    • 50,000 rows
    • 50 GB storage
  • Enterprise$14/month
    • Billed annually, 18 EUR if billed monthly
    • Unlimited rows
    • 100 GB storage
  • Dedicated Cloud$undefined/year
    • Quoted, minimum 100 users
    • Dedicated instance
    • Unlimited rows

Which should you pick?

Choose Quadratic if

  • You need multi-language cells.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want infinite canvas.
Quadratic review

Choose SeaTable if

  • You need typed column database.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
  • You also want multiple views.
SeaTable review

Questions people ask

Is Quadratic or SeaTable better?
Neither clearly leads. Quadratic starts at Free and SeaTable at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Quadratic or SeaTable?
Quadratic starts at Free and SeaTable at Free.
Does Quadratic or SeaTable run on more platforms?
Quadratic runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. SeaTable runs on Web, iOS, Android, Linux.
Can I use Quadratic for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Quadratic best used for?
Quadratic is most often used for an analyst who wants a sql result, a python transformation and a set of manual assumptions visible in one file instead of three tools, ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cell, sharing a reproducible analysis with a colleague who will only ever open a spreadsheet, not a notebook, prototyping a data pull against a warehouse before committing it to a scheduled pipeline. Of those, an analyst who wants a sql result, a python transformation and a set of manual assumptions visible in one file instead of three tools and ad hoc modelling where part of the logic is genuinely code and part is a judgement call typed into a cell are not what SeaTable is typically brought in for.
What can Quadratic do that SeaTable cannot?
Quadratic covers Multi-language cells, Infinite canvas, Direct database connections, AI agent in the sheet. SeaTable covers Typed column database, Multiple views, Universal app builder, Python and JavaScript scripting.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Quadratic: Do I need to know Python to use it?

No, formulas work on their own, but the reason to choose Quadratic over Google Sheets is the code cells, so a team with no Python will not get the value.

SeaTable: Where is SeaTable cloud data actually stored?

In data centres in Germany, under German and EU law, with a standard GDPR processing agreement available.

Quadratic: What happens when the AI credits run out?

Prompting stops until the next monthly reset or until you move up a plan; the spreadsheet itself keeps working normally.

SeaTable: Is SeaTable open source?

No. Seafile, from the same team, is open source. SeaTable is a commercial product with a free self-hosted edition limited to three users.

Quadratic: Can it replace a BI tool?

Not for scheduled distribution or governed metrics. It is for exploratory work by one person or a small team, not for dashboards a hundred people read.

SeaTable: How does it compare with Airtable on price?

Plus is 7 EUR per user per month billed annually against Airtable Team at 20 USD, but SeaTable applies hard row ceilings on every plan below Enterprise.

Quadratic: Is my database query sent to the vendor?

Connections run through the vendor service on all plans except Enterprise self-hosting, which is the option to take if that is unacceptable.

SeaTable: Can I move an existing Airtable base across?

Yes, SeaTable imports Airtable bases and Excel files, though formula fields and automations usually need rebuilding by hand.

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